Mozambique Malawi and Zambia

Around 2:30 p.m., we walk into the center of Maputo — just to be safe, without any valuables on us. We follow the sights listed in the travel guide. Through the Jardim Tunduru park, past the Casa de Ferro (Iron House) and the white Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, we reach the Conselho Municipal (City Hall). We walk to the entrance to take a look inside. The guard at the door gives us permission to have a look around. The hall is beautiful, and the stained-glass windows depict 17th-century sailing ships. We continue to the colonial fort. This fort was originally built by the Dutch and later expanded by the Portuguese. I notice that everyone smiles warmly as we walk by. Vendors do try to sell their wares, but they are never pushy. At the fish market — where I can only take a photo for a fee — we continue on to the train station. The station was designed by Gustave Eiffel. We walk onto the platform and discover a small restaurant by the tracks. We order a Coke and some soup with bread.